Bilic has new transfer priority

West Ham are eyeing Walsall’s Rico Henry and Leeds’ Charlie Taylor after it emerged that Aaron Cresswell’s injury could be serious.

Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is currently without any cover in the left-back position and will be forced into the transfer market after Cresswell was hurt in a late challenge during the club’s pre-season trip to Austria.

The former Ipswich Town defender is expected to miss up to six months of the upcoming campaign, although the nature of the knee problem he sustained has not been officially confirmed.

Bilic cannot recall Stephen Hendrie from his loan at Blackburn Rovers until January but the defender has also picked up an injury.

Henry and Taylor are two young Football League prospects that have been watched by Hammers scouts but the manager could decide that he wants a player with Premier League experience.

Bilic could opt to explore the loan market and look abroad for a solution, with a left-back now a priority for the club’s recruitment staff.